For the latest information, go to The BEAR Group's Facebook page, here.

We are working on permanent black bear protection, public outreach and education. In 2017, we had 85 outreach events, 10 billboards, met with over 57 legislators to keep issue alive, got international press coverage for our bears to keep momentum high, research, white papers, Op-Eds, has a lawsuit in progress against the hunt, understands New Jersey's political system, and stopped 8 bear hunts since 2000.

In October, 2016, The BEAR Group secured Phil Murphy's promise he will stop the hunt. We must hold him to this promise.

In 2018, Pedals' Law will still be critical, even after the hunt is stopped. Pedals' Law will bring down complaints, which are used to justify bear hunting. Keep fighting the good fight!

Pedals' Law

Visit Pedals' Law Facebook page for details. Contact your state legislators to ask them to support Pedals' Law (A2455 - New 2018 version in Assembly). Find your legislators here.

Get involved and be active in the fight to protect bears!

Look at the events list and volunteer. Donate money toward billboards and literature printing needs. Go to our Facebook page to see the latest things we are doing. Be a voice for bears.

BEAR HUNTS:

- do nothing to protect public safety

- do nothing to prevent incidences and complaints

- are recreational trophy hunts

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey Fish and Game Council, and bear hunters should be held liable for any incidences involving black bears because they have failed to support and implement Bear Smart intitiates.

What works:

- Public Education - people need to know how to behave responsibly in bear habitat

STILL RELEVANT in 2018: 2015 BLACK BEAR COMMENT PERIOD RESULTS

92.4% OPPOSED TO BEAR HUNT | 7.6% support hunt

On August 11, 2015, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council (FGC) voted to adopt the highly controversial 2015 Comprehensive Black Bear Management Plan (CBBMP). At the same meeting, FGC released the tally of the 60-day comment period, which doesn't add up. There is a thirty-one percent gap between the four percent who support the entire policy and sixty-five percent who oppose the entire policy. See FGC report here.

Bear Education And Resource Program filed an Open Public Records Act request (#177273) to review the entire record. Over the next several days, the electronic online record was tabulated.

A total of 10,093 records were counted. A whopping 9,327 comments opposed the bear hunt, compared to 766 comments in favor of the hunt. This works out to 92.4% opposed and 7.6% in favor.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental press office: "It's not a popularity contest," the DEP's Larry Hajna explained, noting the uncounted comments "...were from emails that generally oppose bear hunting, and we were looking for substantive comments on why something should or should not be done."

Our position: All public comments opposed to the hunt are substantive.

2018 Billboards

New designs coming. Billboards are effective at reaching large numbers of people. Each billboard is 10'5"h x 22'8"w and is up for one month and our goal is to place billboards in different locations all throughout New Jersey.

Since this is an ongoing project, please consider contributing to our billboard project, click the gofundme link below. Any size donation is appreciated.

Many thanks to Director of Outreach and Advertisement, Doreen Frega and Assistant Director of Outreach and Advertisement, Donna Arcaro for doing all of the legwork for this great project.

We are presently working on getting more boards. Locations to be announced when ready. Please support this effort by donating here

PEDALS' CHARM

To memorialize all the bears who have been victims of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife's lethal "management" and to help fund our continuing bear protection work, we are selling these exclusive charms.

The charm features Pedals, whose killing sparked the same outrage that was felt after Cecil the lion was killed. To read more and order yours, click here.

UPCOMING OUTREACH EVENTS

Reaching the public through the below outreach events is critical to our mission to stop the hunt and protect bears permanently. Without the public behind us, the legislators and governor will NOT care. And educating the public about bears reduces complaints and unwarranted fears.

If you are not tabling with us, start. DO IT NOW!

Our Outreach Associate Director is always looking for events to accomplish our mission. Contact the BEAR Group to suggest an event or to help staff one.

The BEAR Group has a great public outreach program and advertising campaign. Can we count on you to get involved?

Please contact our Director of Outreach and Advertisement, Doreen for more information and to sign up. Please check back as the below will be updated regularly.